We all want to play outside on a bright sunny day and if we're doing something fun, we bring our camera along.  Why not?  That full golden sunshine makes colors brighter, our skin glow and our dispositions happier!  Bright shiny sunlight is perfect at the beach, the ballpark and the playground. On a family photo shoot?  Not so much.  The same light that makes our skin glow and clothing pop, makes our eyes squinty and puts  harsh shadows on our skin and clothes.  (And, it makes some of us sweat, but we aren't talking about that today.)

So, what do I do when I'm shooting on a bright sunny day?   Look for some open shade!  Thankfully, this weekend The Ackerman family and I met at a beautiful farm with plenty of sunlight and a great area of open shade!  We took some pics. in the sunshine - even donning sunglasses;) 

But, when we moved into the shade, everyone was able to relax their facial muscles and stop squinting.  The result?  A beautiful family, beautifully lit now has some incredibly perfect pictures!  Take a look for yourself!

When you are taking snapshots of your own children this spring and summer, find some open shade for them.  You'll love the results.  And, even better, let me take portraits of your whole family!  I can't wait!

This was a great winter for portraits!  It was so mild, and there was so little snow, that I was shooting outdoors through January!  But, wouldn't you know that on a warm sunny Saturday, I arrived at the shoot location to be met with SNOW!  The warmer weather made the pretty white flakes a wet mess.  Even though Kylie and Savannah were troopers, we only shot for about 30 minutes before I said, "Let's reshoot when it's sunny and warmer!"  Everyone was eager to pack it in and warm up! 

Fast forward to last Saturday which was a little chilly, but dry and SUNNY!  Best of all, we had the golden hour sunlight that every photographer lives for:  dreamy golden light that halos the children and casts a warm glow on everything.  I am always giddy when I find it during one of my sessions!

First up was Kylie.  She is an adorably fun and mischievous imp!  The only way to get her to do what we wanted was to tell her NOT to do it.  (Fortunately, I have my own 4-year-old imp at home, so I know how to work with them:).  But her giggles and joy made us all laugh along with her and her shots are great!

Next up was Savannah and she is as quiet and shy as Kylie is loud and fun!  She is also a grandma's girl and basked in grandma's attention. I love seeing that:)

My favorite images though are the ones of the sisters together.  They just adore each other and we didn't have to coax them to show that to us!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to capture not only each girl's personality, but their sister love! 

My journey to a photography business started with a love for pictures.  Then a few people asked me to take their pictures.  And, a few more people said "your pictures are really good!" And, you would think that was all I needed to hang out my virtual shingle on the world wide web, and set up shop!  But, MANY people take really good pictures.  What was going to set me apart?  What right did I have to call myself a "pro"?  And, other than taking really good pictures, did I know enough about all of the other aspects of photography to provide my hypothetical clients with quality images they would want to hang over the mantle for years to come? 

It took me several years to be able to answer these questions well enough to satisfy my own doubts.  And, when I look back, I  know it's a very good thing that I listened to myself!  What started as a small whisper has grown into a confident voice inside me that assures me I am a pro, set apart by the fact that I took the time to learn not only the fundamentals of a good photograph, or my camera manual, but how to take the SOOC (Straight out of Camera) image and edit it properly. 

Here is an image from my first "shoot" in November of 2009:

I still love the composition of this portrait and the spontaneous hug that shows just how much these boys love each other.  But, it's REALLY yellow!  I really loved oversaturating, apparently.  The colors are unnatural, and the boys' faces have a pink cast to them. 

I brought this picture out today and re-edited:

Wow!  So much better!  The grass is a more natural green; the boys' skin is more natural and the sled now stands out, instead of blending in with the stone wall.  I would be very proud to have that client hang this one over the mantle!

I haven't learned everything - I hope I never stop learning and growing!  My business and I are still a work in progress.  But, after taking a look back, I can be confident in moving forward.  

You may not be a photographer, but there is something you love to do, or create.  Have you taken a look back to where you started?  I hope so.  And, I hope you will celebrate just how far you've come!